Refugee intake boost: 15,000 visas for Afghan nationals

A move to provide more than 15,000 visas to Afghan nationals trapped in the war-torn country has been blasted by a Labor MP as ‘insulting and offensive’.

Afghan people climb atop a plane as they wait at the Kabul airport. Picture: AFP

More than 15,000 visas will be provided to Afghan nationals who remain trapped in the war-torn country, a move blasted by a Labor MP as “insulting and offensive”.

The news came as a parliamentary Senate committee unanimously called for an independent investigation into Australia’s evacuation effort from Afghanistan, while warning that former Australian Defence Force staff left behind were at significant risk of reprisal from the Taliban.

Months after the chaotic evacuation from Kabul, the federal government has moved to ensure local staff, family members and at-risk minority groups are provided with a pathway through the existing humanitarian and family visa program to resettle in Australia.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said the increased allocation – augmenting the 3000 places offered in August – would be provided over four years, including 10,000 places for Afghan nationals within the humanitarian program and at least 5000 visas in the family stream.

The Department of Home Affairs has received 32,500 applications for the humanitarian program made by Afghan nationals on behalf of 145,000 individuals.

Mr Hawke said priority would be given to former locally engaged staff and their immediate family members; current and former subclass 449 visa holders; those with “enduring links” to Australia; and women and girls, ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ and other minority groups.

Labor MP Julian Hill said the announcement was “insulting and offensive” to Afghans who had been “abandoned” by Australia.

The 5000 places offered as part of the family stream was sophistry, he said, simply reannouncing a measure already available to other Australian immigrants.

Bruce MP Julian Hill. Picture: Gary Ramage

“As of today (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison has processed zero out of 3000 visas promised, yet is trying to trick people with another rubbish announcement,” said Mr Hill, whose Bruce electorate in Melbourne includes the largest Afghan diaspora in the country.

Earlier on Friday, the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Senate committee released a 266-page report, which made eight recommendations after a five-month inquiry into Australia’s involvement in the Taliban-controlled country.

The committee’s broad terms of reference included assessing the government’s success in achieving its stated objectives, and the costs of engagement in Afghanistan. It also included assessing the adequacy of Australia’s preparation for the withdrawal.

The report warns that 198 locally engaged employees with valid Australian visas remain trapped in Afghanistan, combined with another 450 without who had applied but are yet to receive a reply from the department.

“Many have fled their homes, navigated Taliban check points, endured arduous conditions at the Hamid Karzai International Airport and been unnecessarily exposed to additional threats, only to be left behind,” a submission from veteran advocacy group Forsaken Fighters Australia says.

Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, who chairs the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References committee, said the report went to the heart of “who we are as a country, and our values”, particularly ensuring that former Afghan staff who worked with the ADF were looked after.